What We Do in the Night (Day to Night #1) - Stylo Fantome Page 0,34

had expected it to end at the door. Sure, Harper was a spoiled brat, he'd guessed that she wouldn't go down without a fight, but he had hoped for some decorum.

It was too much to ask for, though, and she followed him out into the hall.

“But why?” she screeched. “We've been together forever! Oh my god, it's another woman, isn't it? Isn't it!?”

It really, really wasn't; the reason he'd come over the night before had been to break up. Seeing Valentine sitting at the table, though, had ended those plans. He'd been enthralled, and after she'd left, he'd simply had to follower her. She'd caught him off guard with her presence – he'd had to repay the favor.

“I can assure you, Harper, I have zero plans to date anyone in the near future. Goodbye.”

The elevator doors opened and while he got into the carriage, Harper planted herself in front of the doors, not allowing them to close.

“This is a test, isn't it? You always thought I was just some stupid girl, so now you're testing me.”

“This is getting embarrassing,” he sighed, rubbing his fingers across his forehead.

“This isn't over, Ari Sharapov. I can play your stupid little game. And when you realize how stupid you're being, you're going to have a lot of groveling to do. Groveling and paying. I'll want Cartier!” she demanded.

Considering what he'd just paid for Valentine, he wasn't going to be doling out money on any other women any time soon. He gave Harper a tight smile, then placed his hand on her arm. He watched as she melted at his touch, and it almost amused him.

Almost.

“I suppose we'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.”

Then he gently but firmly shoved her into the hallway. She was caught off guard and went with the push, stumbling away from the doors. By the time she'd caught her balance, she was too far away. The last thing he saw before the doors slid shut was her gaping face.

There, that wasn't so hard. One problem tackled. Now to go after the other one and lay down some ground rules. Don't want to end up in another situation like this one.

He didn't think it would be a problem, though. Valentine was in a similar situation to his own – she was seeking something just beyond her grasp. She was in a tight situation by the sounds of things, being pulled in a lot of different directions. Work. School. Home. Her grandmother. She must be desperate for someone to take some of the weight off her back. Someone to take control of the situation.

And Ari longed for just that – control. That's what drew him to Valentine so much, she represented so many things he wanted. Things he needed. A relationship he could be in complete control of, one where he called all the shots, one where he took what he needed and didn't have to care about the other person.

She needed money.

He wanted sex without attachment.

Win-win.

He didn't know her very well, and that was perfect, because he didn't need to. He liked the way she looked, and he liked the way she fucked, and yes, he liked her personality. That was all good enough for him. He'd been dreaming about a situation like theirs for a long time, so now he was going to hold onto it for as long as could.

For as long as it didn't bore him.

Pity, really, because eventually everything always does.

WHEN VALENTINE WOKE up and went downstairs the next morning, she couldn't decide whether she felt better or worse about her new situation. She slinked into the kitchen and sat in silence at the table while Nurse Grace prepared breakfast for Gam-Gam.

“You look like a wreck, miss,” Grace sighed, not even bothering to turn around. Val snorted at her back.

“I feel like a wreck.”

“I admire what you do for your grandmother, I really do, and your entrance into heaven is assured. But you really do need to take a break every now and then.”

Ah. The phrase of the unbothered and the untethered. Valentine hated it when people said shit like that to her. Of course she knew she needed a break. Christ, she knew better than anyone else how badly she needed a break. But how was she supposed to take that break?

Oh, sorry Mr. Landlord, can't pay all the rent this month – I had to take a break.

Whoopsie, Mercy Medical Clinic, my bad, can't give you the money for that